Liverpool could pocket millions from Man City's 115 charges legal battle with the Premier League

Liverpool, and every other English top-flight club, could claim a hefty compensation pay-out if Manchester City lose their legal battle with the Premier League. In February 2023, the Premier League charged its then-reigning champions with 115 alleged breaches of financial regulations.

The allegations included claims that the club did not provide accurate financial information and failed to cooperate with investigations covering nine seasons (2009/10 to 2017/18). Man City have consistently denied any wrongdoing, and they pushed to clear their name before an independent panel.

The proceedings, which took place behind closed doors at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London, wrapped up late last year. A trio of adjudicators have been reviewing the evidence, with a final judgement still pending.

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Rumours abound that should Man City be found guilty, Premier League clubs could stand to receive substantial compensation. Speaking to TBR Football, football finance expert Kieran Maguire posited that FSG would be open to shouldering the costs of a legal fight if it meant a chance at recompense.

The lecturer in football finance at Liverpool University also hinted that Everton's recent financial settlement with Leeds United, concerning lost revenue, might pave the way for future claims. Maguire said: "As far as Liverpool are concerned, the legal bill is the cost of doing business.

"They see themselves as one of the clubs who will have been significantly disadvantaged should Man City be found guilty. If we take into account the settlement between Everton and Leeds United, that could be significant precedent.

"But that is if City are found guilty – and that is a big if. And although you wouldn't expect them to say any different, all the noises I am getting from Manchester are very confident.

"If it's going to cost Liverpool £5m but they could potentially get much more if City are found guilty... They will have effectively worked it out on an insurance basis.

"It might be a short-term pain, long-term gain scenario. But the costs have certainly got out of control. Other costs have gone through the roof too, such as utilities and administration at club level."

Richard Masters kept his cards close to his chest when Sky Sports asked him to provide an update on the dispute back in August. On why the English top-flight couldn't expedite the process, the Premier League chief executive said: "I can't answer that specific question.

"What I can tell you about is the system and how it works. I mean, it's an independent judiciary, essentially. So once the allegations, the charge has been put forward, they go before an independent panel, which is independently selected, and they are then in charge of the process and its timings.

"They hear the case, they decide the outcome, and we have no influence over that, over it or its timing. And that's right, if you think from an independence point of view, that there is independent people making those decisions, and we just have to be waiting."

Masters added: "My frustration is irrelevant, really. I mean, I just have to wait, and legal processes rarely take less time than you anticipated, but we have to be patient."

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